MLB 2K11 News Post

MLB 2K11 Reviewer First Impressions

02:13 PM - March 9, 2011 by RaychelSnr

We recently changed our review process. Read all about how we do our reviews now.

One of the luxuries of our new review format here at Operation Sports is that it gives us reviewers a full week (at least) to put a game through its paces. In the case of MLB 2K11, our new format may be a godsend. Why you ask? Because based on my first impressions with the retail build, this game has a long way to go in the next week to impress me.

MLB 2K11 seems to play a fundamentally solid game of hardball. The problem is the game feels extremely unpolished, almost to the point where it�s been impossible to enjoy some of the game's best qualities -- like the reworked timing windows while batting that lead to an impressive amount of hit variety.

In the five hours I have spent with the game, I�ve noticed some extremely irritating graphical glitches. One has involved pitchers magically turning into PS2-style player models when being pulled from the game. Another has involved watching my screen freeze for milliseconds multiple times as a ball is hit into play. And one more beyond that involved a pitching animation glitch that made the ball morph from the pitcher's hand to another trajectory so distracting that it made the ball impossible to hit. MLB 2K11 is not the most aesthetically pleasing game, and it�s becoming abundantly clear as to why the game was not shown off more prior to its release.

Read More - MLB 2K11 Reviewer First Impressions

Game: Major League Baseball 2K11Reader Score: 5.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: NDS / PC / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 17 - View All

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Member Comments

# 21 econoodle @ 03/09/11 07:21 PM

no disrespect, but are you guys just gonna ignore what CMH said?
No Show talk.

geez its getting really annoying coming to read an article on here about 2K and having people go on about another game.

man you guys are really disrespecting what the Mods are asking.

In any event, as always I love the in house articles.
Still on the fenc about 2k, but as the OS talk builds up, ill decide.

# 22 BA2929 @ 03/09/11 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by econoodle


	no disrespect, but are you guys just gonna ignore what CMH said? No Show talk. geez its getting really annoying coming to read an article on here about 2K and having people go on about another game. man you guys are really disrespecting what the Mods are asking. In any event, as always I love the in house articles. Still on the fenc about 2k, but as the OS talk builds up, ill decide.

As this is also an OS Front Page article, most of us forget that it also double posts on the 2k11 message board. No disrespect intended on my end.

# 23 econoodle @ 03/09/11 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA2929


	As this is also an OS Front Page article, most of us forget that it also double posts on the 2k11 message board.

you don't need to explain anything to me, people just need to follow the rules here.
besides, when I see 2K11 in the article title, I don't get confused.
Sorry if i come off edgy, but man its non-stop in here about the other game it seems.
Everybody knows the deal, no cross-game talk.

I am through taking this off topic, but did want to voice that.
the mods have a killer time opening week of these games, keeping things under control, lets make it easy on em.

# 24 The Bimmer @ 03/09/11 07:42 PM

After 5 games of 2k11 baseball it reminds me alot of my golf game. I usually hit 8-10 good to great shots ( including putts) the other 90-100 go from not to bad to awful, but I keep going back out there. I see that being the case with 2k11 baseball, especially the MLB today feature.

# 25 CptPizzo @ 03/09/11 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bimmer


	After 5 games of 2k11 baseball it reminds me alot of my golf game. I usually hit 8-10 good to great shots ( including putts) the other 90-100 go from not to bad to awful, but I keep going back out there. I see that being the case with 2k11 baseball, especially the MLB today feature.

That's about the best summation of the game I have ever heard...

Nice!

# 26 Chitown1211 @ 03/09/11 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoreyMac


	You have the Show and 2K11 and The Show will sit sealed? I'm sorry but thats rubbish. The Show 11 is incredible.

What if i was to tell you in the last 3 years I have twice bought a ps3 with the sole reason of playing the show and returned them both times. Last time just last week.

Yes, The Show is technically better then 2k, but IMO the Show is boring as all heck. I have tried so many times to play that game and it just bores me to tears. Its dull and robotic, and just so scripted as if everything you do has been pre-determined a split second before you actually do it. Its "too precise" or too canned if that makes any sense?

Im with Corey, the "whole" of 2k is so much more "fun" then the show. In the years that 2k has been "unplayable" i have ended up just sitting out baseball. Thats how much I dont like The Show.

# 27 SDwinder @ 03/10/11 02:40 AM

Another great baseball "Mind" speaks.....The Bigs is "fun" too, but when I want real baseball there is only one choice. Apples and Walnuts
2K11 is improved over the last few years, now it's a C+. The Show is a lot less "boring" for 11. Maybe you should check it out first, but then again many people think the game of baseball is boring. Why? Because they are casual fans, who just enjoy the atmosphere or presentation. They don't really know the game nor appreciate it. To those, choose the fun game! Apples and Walnuts...

# 28 BustinLoose @ 03/10/11 02:47 AM

What they need to do is switch the team that created NBA2K11 with the team that did MLB2K11, then maybe we will get a outstanding baseball game, because NBA2K11 is off the charts !!

# 29 �nima @ 03/10/11 09:06 AM

The 2k baseball series is definitely headed in the right direction. I bought MLB 2k7 (or was it 2k6?) for my 360 on launch day... the one that would lock up pretty much EVERY GAME at launch. After that, I got fed up and explored my options with another game on a different console for three or four years. I recently came back to the 2k Series with 2k10 when I read about the control/mechanic changes.

The bottom line is that 2k baseball is fun baseball. I only mention my personal history with baseball gaming because it frames my mindset and viewpoint with 2k11. It is fun. Pitching feels like pitching to me. The mechanics of it are phenomenal. Really, the exchange between hitters and pitchers is the best you are going to find. Factor in the fact that 2k really went to work and now has provided us with a top notch fielding experience (great fielders feel like great fielders, terrible ones feel terrible, it is very satisfying) and IMO you have the most accurate baseball experience on the market.

Is it gorgeous? That depends. I love the stadiums and the pace of the action. The presentation is great. Player faces can be WAY off, there are occasional hitches right after a hit (Which don't really bother me, since at that point I'm not trying to pull off a timing gesture) and shadows are pretty jaggy looking.

Are there bugs? Sure. And some of them are pretty major. That said, I believe most of them are already being looked at by 2k and will be addressed. Some people post doom and gloom about 2k not caring, but why wouldn't they? They want a product that will bring their baseball franchise back. This can be that product, with a little more polish.

I'm enjoying the game and not freaking out about the little details. I'm not playing 2k because I'm not "skilled" enough to play the competition. I have both consoles and I'm good at the games I play.

I'm playing MLB 2k11 because it is downright fun.

Haters gonna hate.

# 30 Blazzen @ 03/10/11 09:47 AM

I agree with the review. It's a fun game if you can get past the bugs. It's a shame, because that has been the mantra for several years in a row for 2k. Fun game, lacking polish. Hopefully a really solid patch before opening day will get this thing playable in time for most to start their franchises.

# 31 CMH @ 03/10/11 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BustinLoose


	What they need to do is switch the team that created NBA2K11 with the team that did MLB2K11, then maybe we will get a outstanding baseball game, because NBA2K11 is off the charts !!

That's what they've done. Even NBA 2K took years to get to where it is today. VC has had a year and a half with MLB 2K. Good games don't suddenly grow in a day or a year.

# 32 Dazraz @ 03/10/11 04:43 PM

I have just downloaded the MLB 2K11 demo. Having been playing The Show the last couple of years I thought I would check out the opposition. I really like the way the game feels. However visually the game is way short of The Show. Could anyone tell me if there is much difference in the visuals on the full game as opposed to the demo? The demo was played on the 360. Thanks.

# 33 rocket21 @ 03/10/11 11:01 PM

I'm really enjoying this game. I think I look at it in comparison to 2K8, and I see how far it has come. It plays a nice game of baseball, and it still has the analog system that it started.

Just a nice, fun game to play.

# 34 CrazyKitchenGuy @ 07/06/11 08:39 PM

The following is simply my thoughts on the game.

I have played the demo for both 2K and The Show.

To me, this "rivalry" is similar to that of NHL 2K and EA.

What is boils down to is that some people can't see past the glitz and polish, and get to the "nitty-gritty" of what the game was designed to do.

Provide an as accurate as possible recreation of the sport and its participants.

While I feel that 2K and The Show both do a tremendous job recreating Baseball, both have their own strengths and weaknesses, as is the case with any game.

For me, 2K dominates in terms of the controls, the commentary, the overall presentation (graphic overlays, pitching/batting cameras, etc) and the fun factor.

A minor plus for me is also the install size and the recent price drop. 2K only required 20mb, whereas The Show requires over 4GB. When you are dealing with a smaller hard drive, as I am, its nice to have that extra space to enjoy other games.

Can't go wrong with a game, that currently, is $20 cheaper than its competition, and will provide numerous hours of enjoyment!

Thats just my 2 cents.

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